Acupuncture-Associated Changes in Migraine-Like Behaviors and Serum Proteomic and Metabolomic Profiles in Nitroglycerin-Induced Rats

Purpose

Acupuncture is widely used as a therapeutic approach for migraine; however, its underlying anti-migraine mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of acupuncture on migraine and identify potential molecular mechanisms using integrated multi-omics analyses. Patients and Methods: 32 male Sprague–Dawley rats were allocated to control, model, sham-acupuncture, and acupuncture groups (n = 8 per group). The model was established by repeated nitroglycerin (NTG) administration. The effects of acupuncture were evaluated by assessing periorbital and hind paw withdrawal thresholds. Serum samples were subsequently analyzed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS)-based metabolomics and proteomics. The mRNA levels of key targets in serum were further quantified using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Differential metabolites and proteins were identified and subjected to Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, correlation, and protein–protein interaction (PPI) analyses.